In a cruel twist of fate that has stunned the college basketball world, the comeback story of USC commit Alijah Arenas has been tragically derailed. Just months after surviving a horrific car crash that left him in a medically induced coma, the star recruit is now facing a devastating knee injury that will sideline him for six to eight months, effectively wiping out his entire 2025-26 freshman season.

Sources close to the program confirmed the nightmare scenario on Wednesday, revealing that Arenas, the highly-touted son of former NBA great Gilbert Arenas, suffered a torn meniscus. The university acknowledged the injury, confirming the lengthy recovery timeline that puts his much-anticipated debut for the Trojans in serious jeopardy. For a player who had already stared death in the face this year, it’s an almost unbelievably harsh blow.

This latest setback comes as Arenas was still recovering from a near-fatal accident in April. In an incident that captured national attention, Arenas crashed his Tesla Cybertruck into a fire hydrant and a tree after a workout. The situation escalated dramatically when the vehicle caught fire, trapping the young athlete inside the burning wreckage.

He later revealed the terrifying details of being stuck for nearly ten minutes, fighting to escape the flames before he was finally able to smash through a window to safety. While he was stabilized at the scene, the severity of his condition required him to be placed into a medically induced coma at the hospital.

His recovery from that life-threatening event was seen as nothing short of miraculous and a testament to his resilience. Now, that same resilience will be tested once again as he embarks on a long and arduous road to rehabilitation. After escaping a fiery tomb and battling back to health, Alijah Arenas faces a new mountain to climb before he can finally step onto the court and fulfill his incredible potential.